The Word in Focus with Dr Larry Taylor

Thoughts on the Sermon on the Mount

Matthew 5-7

Part 21

By it very chiastic structure, the Sermon on the Mount doesn’t end. 

After Jesus finished preaching, Matthew adds, ^7:28 Now when Jesus had finished saying these words, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, ²⁹ for he taught them as one having authority and not as their scribes.

The crowds of people, some dedicated apprentices, others just curious, were rocked to the core. Their entire world was flipped upside-down. They were astounded, astonished, shocked, amazed. They had never heard anything like this from their Bible teachers. 

Nothing short of completely rethinking their entire lives was called for. Jesus upset the normal way of viewing reality, kicked them out of normalcy, and challenged everything they assumed to be true.

“Common sense” was overturned. Love enemies? Turn the other cheek? Solidarity with the marginalized? Blessed are the meek? Trust God, not money? Be extravagantly generous? Nonviolently resist injustice? Proactively do for others what you’d like done for you?

It’s all so impractical. Everyone knows that in the real world we have to kill our enemies, fight back, defend ourselves, be assertive, and save money against a rainy day. Since the Eisenhower administration, a motto of the United States has been “In God we trust.” But this nation doesn’t trust God. As a nation we trust a massive military and a soaring stock market.

This whole kingdom of the heavens thing is upside down. The last are first. The way up is down. The greatest is the servant. Love conquers hatred. Dying conquers death. The unlimited power of almighty God is on display on a Roman gibbet. 

Following this King into this Kingdom costs everything. It begins with me radically rethinking my life in light of the fact the God’s Kingdom is here, now, and, although open to all, is inhabited mostly by the despised and down and out. This Kingdom is the polar opposite of white “Christian” nationalism. 

This teaching is so radical that theologians and pastors have done their best to neuter it. Some think it only applies to when we get to heaven, or after Christ returns. Others imagine it is only for monks, nuns, and other super-saints. Some say it displays an ideal that will never be reached. Many Christians have a flat Bible. By that, I mean they see every verse as equal to every other verse. So they negate the teachings of Jesus by quoting King David. 

Jesus said what he meant and meant what he said. God really expects us to live by the Sermon on the Mount. The only path to the tree of life is through the fiery sword. We overcome the source of evil by being more willing to die than kill. Take up your cross daily and follow me, says the Master. 

In a chiastic structure, the main point is in the middle. The Sermon on the Mount doesn’t end like a linear text – it circles back on itself, the last thought parallels the first, the penultimate thought parallels the second idea, and so on until, once again, we reach the heart of the teaching – the Our Father, the Lord’s Prayer. 

Our Father in the heavens,

may we always revere your name as holy, keeping your reputation spotless.

May your kingdom come.
May your will be done, as in the heavens, so on earth.

Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, our sins, our transgressions as we also have forgiven our debtors and those who sin or trespass against us.
And do not bring us to the time of trial or testing; don’t let anyone or anything lead us into temptation, but instead, rescue us from the evil one. 

Thy Kingdom come – here, now, in me, in us.

Thy will be done, here on earth, today, in me, in us.

Amen.